Neuroscience Informed Play Therapy: Models and Applications

Registration Is Full.

Description

Neuroscience research provides ample evidence of neurochemical and brain structural changes caused by mental health issues that result in cognitive, affective, and behavioral dysregulation. Aside from a handful of recent articles, little is known about the actual impact of play therapy on brain structures and neurobiology. However, it is reasonable to extrapolate information, from neuroscience research, to inform best practices within play therapy. It is also possible to review neuroscience research as we hypothesize how play therapy is beneficial. As such, we learn that neurobiologically-informed, relationally focused, play therapy treatments include building on safety and security of caregivers and community, being developmentally sensitive, and addressing affective-behavioral dysregulation.

This workshop will provide an overview of neurobiology, neurotransmitters, and brain functioning, describe neurobiologically-informed play therapy, and postulate the interaction between play therapy and developmental neurobiology. As a result, attendees will have a better understanding of how to incorporate neuroscience research into their play therapy practice as well as examine the theoretical models of play therapy that have been aligned to neuroscience principles.

Learning Objectives

1. Discuss basic neurobiology, neurotransmitters, and brain functioning
2. Describe what is meant by neurobiologically-informed play therapy
3. Hypothesize the reciprocal interaction between neurobiology and Play Therapy
4. Explore how to incorporate neuroscience research into play therapy practice
5. Evaluate the components of neurobiologically-informed, relationally-focused, play therapy treatments 
6. Examine which theoretical models of play therapy have been aligned to neuroscience principles

Presenter

Franc is Chair and Associate Professor of Counselor Education at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT. He is Editor of the International Journal of Play Therapy, Co-Editor of the Journal of Military and Government Counseling as well as an editorial board member for the Journal of Creativity in Mental Health and The Professional Counselor. He serves as Past-President of the Association for Creativity in Counseling and President-Elect of the Military and Government Counseling Association. He received his PhD, in Counselor Education & Supervision, from the University of Mississippi in 2009. He has been a Registered Pharmacist since 1989 and a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2004. His writing and research interests include creative applications in mental health, telemental health ethical and legal issues, neuroscience influences on play therapy, trauma’s impact on brain development, and psychopharmacology.

Schedule

Registration	8:00-8:30
Workshop Session I	8:30-10:00
Morning Break	10:00-10:15
Workshop Session II	10:15-12:00
Lunch Break	12:00-12:45
AAPT Annual Membership Meeting	12:45-1:00
Workshop Session III	1:00-2:30
Afternoon Break	2:30-2:45
Workshop Session IV	2:45-4:00

Continuing Education Credit

Six Contact Hours will be awarded for a full day of attendance.  

Counselors:  Alabama Association for Play Therapy (AAPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6211.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are identified.  Alabama Association for Play Therapy is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Marriage and Family Therapists: The Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy (ABEMFT) automatically approves courses that are NBCC approved for CE credit. 

Play Therapists: AAPT is approved by the Association for Play Therapy (APT) to offer continuing education specific to play therapy. APT Approved Provider No. 98-045.   

Social Workers: AAPT is approved by the Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners (ASBSWE) to offer continuing education to social workers. ASBSWE Provider No. 0284. 

Registration Fees:

REGISTRATION FEES	Early Registration (until Nov. 30)	Registration (Dec 1 – Jan20)	On-Site Registration (January 27th)
AAPT/APT Member	$125	$145	$160
Non-Member	$155	$175	$190
Full-Time Student (with proof of enrollment)	$100	$115	$130

**REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS Friday, January 20th, 2023**

REGISTRATION IS AT CAPACITY AND IS CLOSED

Group Discount:

A discount of $10.00 per registrant for groups of 3 or more registering together. When registering a group online, please register all group members at one time using the add additional attendee link that appears at the end of the registration. Check or money order only if registering by mail. Credit Cards accepted if registering online. No purchase orders accepted.

Scholarships:

Scholarships to attend the AAPT workshop will be offered to full-time students who volunteer to be available Thursday evening, January 26th and all-day Friday, January 27th to assist with the conference. Volunteer duties may involve working registration, assisting with setup prior to the event, cleaning up after the event, selling books for the presenter, and preparing materials for the workshop. Students interested in volunteering for the event should contact Alicia Spomer at studentrep@alabamaplaytherapy.org and submit proof of enrollment in a counseling or related program (SW, MFT, etc). 

Location: Bruno Conference Center at St. Vincent’s in Birmingham

Special Needs:

Please contact CE & Registration at ceandregistration@alabamaplaytherapy.org, Registration & CE Coordinator

Cancellations:

Registrants canceling up to 48 hours before a workshop will receive a tuition refund less a $20 administrative fee (per day). All requests must be made in writing or by email. No refunds will be issued for any reason after January 24, 2023.  In the unlikely event, the workshop cannot be held, registrants will receive complimentary admission to a rescheduled workshop or a full value voucher, good for one year, for a future workshop.

Membership Information:

To join the Association for Play Therapy’s click here.

 Register Now to secure your spot!

Sign up to receive emails from AAPT so you can stay up-to-date with all the news and announcements from AAPT!

Playing Perfectly: A Play Therapist’s Guide for Working with OCD in Play Therapy

Description: 

From perfectionism to anxiety to self-doubt, the world of a child struggling with OCD can be incredibly overwhelming. Come explore how to support these children in play therapy and discover how their need for perfection is in fact perfect.

Supporting a child struggling with obsessive compulsions and perfectionism can be incredibly challenging as the desire to move the child out of their rigidity and rituals can overshadow the deeper issues and stressors driving the behaviors.  Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a complex disorder as the reasons behind the behaviors vary from managing anxiety to past traumas to focused energy inside of a child driving them towards their genius and that which is most meaningful.  Due to the complexity, therapists often mis-label, mis-understand and mis-guide these children in how to work with and understand their rituals and need for perfectionism.  Without an understanding of this disorder and how play therapy is able to support the integration of the underlying drivers of the behaviors, play therapists can inadvertently intensify the inner struggle that is often experienced by these children as they attempt to stop, control and even deny the urges in their bodies.   

Drawing from Gestalt, Cognitive Behavioral, and Synergetic Play Therapy theories, this workshop is filled with non-directive and directive play based interventions to help support play therapists on a path to understand the perfection in these children’s perfection, while teaching the child how to do the same.  Play therapists will take a deeper look at the regulatory function of the child’s behaviors that manage the internal conflicts and anxieties these children often carry.  Through discussion and experiential exercises, play therapists will learn how to separate the underlying drivers from the wisdom of the rituals themselves.  With this knowledge, play therapists will learn how to use themselves and many forms of play to help these children access an understanding of the greatest perfection that exists, the child just as they are.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Explore the symptoms of OCD and how they present themselves in play therapy
2. Discuss OCD as a strategy to regulate the nervous system and how to support the child’s need for regulation
3. Discuss the possible connection between OCD and a child’s genius and the implications of this when working with OCD in play therapy
4. Explore how play therapy helps a child with OCD and perfectionism learn how to regulate through their anxiety and need for perfectionism
5. Explore ways to help a child integrate and manage some of the fears that may be driving the compulsive behaviors
6. Discuss how a therapist’s own compulsions in a play therapy session can hinder or support a child’s play therapy process

Presenter

Lisa Dion, LPC, RPT-S, is the founder and President of the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute. She is an international teacher, the creator of Synergetic Play Therapy®, host of the Lessons from the Playroom podcast and webinar series and author of Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Intensity. She is the 2015 recipient of the Association for Play Therapy’s Professional Education and Training Award of Excellence.

Day 1 Schedule

Registration	8:00-8:30
Workshop Session I	8:30-10:00
Morning Break	10:00-10:15
Workshop Session II	10:15-12:00
Lunch Break	12:00-12:45
AAPT Annual Membership Meeting	12:45-1:00
Workshop Session III	1:00-2:30
Afternoon Break	2:30-2:45
Afternoon Session	2:45-4:00

Continuing Education Credit

Six Contact Hours will be awarded for day one (Friday) of attendance.  

Counselors:  Alabama Association for Play Therapy (AAPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6211.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are identified.  Alabama Association for Play Therapy is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Marriage and Family Therapists: The Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy (ABEMFT) automatically approves courses that are NBCC approved for CE credit. 

Play Therapists: AAPT is approved by the Association for Play Therapy (APT) to offer continuing education specific to play therapy. APT Approved Provider No. 98-045.   

Social Workers: AAPT is approved by the Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners (ASBSWE) to offer continuing education to social workers. ASBSWE Provider No. 0284. 

Registration Fees:

REGISTRATION FEES	Early	On-Site
AAPT/APT Member	$130	$150
Non-Member	$160	$180
Full-Time Student	$105	$125

**REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS Friday, June 10th, 2022**

Group Discount:

A discount of $10.00 per registrant for groups of 3 or more registering together. When registering a group online, please register all group members at one time using the add additional attendee link that appears at the end of the registration. Check or money order only if registering by mail. Credit Cards accepted if registering online. No purchase orders accepted.

Scholarships:

Scholarships to attend the AAPT workshop will be offered to full-time students who volunteer to be available Thursday evening, June 16th and all-day Friday, June 17th to assist with the conference. Volunteer duties may involve working registration, assisting with setup prior to the event, cleaning up after the event, selling books for the presenter, and preparing materials for the workshop. Students interested in volunteering for the event should contact Ella Watson at studentrep@alabamaplaytherapy.org or Dr. Amy Davis at president@alabamaplaytherapy.org and submit proof of enrollment in a counseling or related program (SW, MFT, etc). 

Location: Bruno Conference Center at St. Vincent’s in Birmingham

Special Needs:

Please contact CE & Registration at ceandregistration@alabamaplaytherapy.org, Registration & CE Coordinator

Cancellations:

Registrants canceling up to 48 hours before a workshop will receive a tuition refund less a $20 administrative fee (per day). All requests must be made in writing or by email. No refunds will be issued for any reason after January 26, 2022.  In the unlikely event, the workshop cannot be held, registrants will receive complimentary admission to a rescheduled workshop or a full value voucher, good for one year, for a future workshop.

Membership Information:

To join the Association for Play Therapy’s click here.

 Register Now to secure your spot!

Sign up to receive emails from AAPT so you can stay up-to-date with all the news and announcements from AAPT!

A Virtual Workshop with Ashley Garrett, EdS, LPC-S, RPT-S, NCC

Friday, July 23, 2021 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM CST

Description:  

As a play therapist, working with children and families often involves complex and complicated situations with both legal and ethical considerations.  This presentation will empower play therapists to manage both the administrative and clinical aspects of play therapy through telehealth while adhering to ethical and legal guidelines. The workshop will include case examples and discussion of strategies to use when working with children and families in play therapy through the telehealth modality.  

 Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will review APT Standards of Care.
2. Participants will apply the APT Standards of Care and the ACA Code of Ethics to cases dealing with telehealth and play therapy.
3. Participants will review and practice applying an ethical decision-making model in case studies.
4. Participants will increase awareness on how telehealth and cultural diversity impact treatment in play therapy.
5. Participants will be able to identify and explain three potential confidentiality violations and safeguards when using technology in play therapy practice. 
6. Participants will learn two play therapy techniques to help process ethical dilemmas through telehealth consultation groups.
7. Participants will learn how to document telehealth and play therapy to ensure compliance for third party payment. 

Presenter: 

Ashley L. Garrett is a Licensed Professional Counselor (#2918) and a Board Certified Counselor with a strong background in working with clients who have a limited support system and have experienced trauma. She is a Registered Play Therapist and Supervisor. She earned her education specialist in Community Agency Counseling and a master’s degree in Agency Counseling from Jacksonville State University. She has a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Samford University. Ashley has special interest and experience in providing supervision and consultation to mental health providers, parenting support through online groups, and consultation with city and state agencies. Ashley has experience leading seminars and groups for churches, universities, business, public schools and other interested groups. Ashley is a member of the American Counseling Association, the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC), the Alabama Counseling Association (ALCA), Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling, and the Association for Play Therapy.

*Garrett is also licensed as an LPC in the State of South Carolina (#6972).

Schedule:    

10am CST—11:30 am CST via Zoom

Log-on 8:00-8:30

Morning Session Part I 8:30-10:00  

Break 10:00-10:15 

Morning Session Part II 10:15-12:00  

Lunch Break 12:00-1:00

Afternoon Session Part I 1:00-4:00 

Break 2:30-2:45 

Afternoon Session Part II 2:45-4:00 

Continuing Education Credit:

6 Non-Contact Hours will be awarded for full attendance.

No partial credit will be awarded. 

Counselors:  Alabama Association for Play Therapy (AAPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6211.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are identified.  Alabama Association for Play Therapy is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Marriage and Family Therapists: The Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy (ABEMFT) automatically approves courses that are NBCC approved for CE credit. 

Play Therapists: AAPT is approved by the Association for Play Therapy (APT) to offer continuing education specific to play therapy. APT Approved Provider No. 98-045.   

Social Workers: AAPT is approved by the Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners (ASBSWE) to offer continuing education to social workers. ASBSWE Provider No. 0284. 

Additionally, registrants (RPT, RPT-S, & SB-RPT) with continuing education due between March 15, 2020 and December 31, 2021, may submit all non-contact training hours to fulfill the 18 hours of play therapy continuing education due with their credentialing renewal.

Registration Fees:

Early registration is recommended as space is limited to 100 attendees. Spaces are not guaranteed until your registration is processed and the registration fee has been paid. 

	Friday, July 23, 2021
AAPT/APT Member	$50
Non-Member	$75
Student	$50

Special Needs:

Please contact CE & Registration at ceandregistration@alabamaplaytherapy.org, Registration & CE Coordinator

Cancellations:

All registrants canceling up to 48 hours before a workshop will receive a tuition refund less a $20 administrative fee. All requests must be made in writing or by email. No refunds issued for any reason after July 21, 2021. In the unlikely event, the workshop cannot be held, registrants will receive complimentary admission to a rescheduled workshop or a full value voucher, good for one year, for a future workshop. 

Questions:

For QUESTIONS about this workshop contact Angela Mains at 205-940-4621 or regionalworkshops@alabamaplaytherapy.org

For REGISTRATION questions contact CE and Registration Coordinators at ceandregistration@alabamaplaytherapy.org

Secure your spot today! Register online using the yellow button at the top of this page.

Both the Friday and Saturday sessions are at capacity.

PRESENTER: Dee Ray PhD, LPC-S, NCC, Certified CCPT-S, Certified CPRT-S, Registered Play Therapist- Supervisor

WHEN: Saturday, January 23, 2021

WHERE: Online (Zoom)

Description:

Morning Session: Effective Play Therapy: Intervention for Tough Times

Description:  Children with severe behavioral problems; children with attachment disruptions; children who have been abused; children who are angry or depressed; children who have experienced trauma; children on the brink of institutionalization. These are our toughest cases and the ones for which we have few answers and effective interventions. This presentation will address why and how play therapy works for children from the most difficult populations. Play therapy will be described and demonstrated in detail regarding its use and effectiveness with children displaying the most problematic presenting issues. Participants will learn best practices regarding limit-setting for challenging children. Participants will learn how to communicate effectively through play therapy, how to measure effectiveness throughout treatment, and how to work within the “real” world of responding to funding sources, managed care, administrators, parents and other adults. Specific techniques regarding limit-setting, consultation, documentation, and measurement will be addressed for play therapy. 

Learning Objectives: 

1. Participants will be able to list the six conditions necessary for effective play therapy..
2. Participants will be able to identify at least three models of rationale for using play therapy with severe presenting issues.
3. Participants will be able to identify basic and advanced techniques in limit-setting in a play therapy setting. 
4. Participants will be able to set individualized and measurable goals in play therapy. 
5. Participants will be able to measure play therapy effectiveness through tracking progress. 
6. Participants will be able to communicate progress to parents and systemic partners. 

Afternoon Session: Advanced Play Therapy: Deepening the Relationship

Description:  This workshop focuses on advanced skills in play therapy including the use of themes in play therapy and building positive relationships with parents for the child’s therapeutic benefit. This workshop will offer a process for identifying common themes in play therapy that will help the play therapist learn to communicate more effectively with the child in session and with parents and schools outside of session. The presenter will lead participants through a systematic method of identification and use of themes to enhance the play therapy process. Additionally, the presenter will actively engage participants in using theme skills for practice immediately upon completion of the workshop. Also, the workshop will facilitate skills on how to use play themes to determine therapeutic progress and ascertain the need for termination.  

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to identify at least 20 possible themes in play therapy
2. Participants will identify the three main components of identifying themes observed in play therapy.
3. Participants will be able to match themes with observed play. 
4. Participants will be able to communicate themes through responses in play sessions.
5. Participants will be able to communicate play therapy themes to parents in parent consultations. 
6. Participants will be able to track play therapy progress through themes.

Presenter: Dee Ray, Ph.D., LPC-S, NCC, RPT-S, Certified CCPT-S, Certified CPRT-S is Distinguished Teaching Professor and Elaine Millikan Mathes Professor in Early Childhood Education in the Counseling Program and Director of the Center for Play Therapy at the University of North Texas.  Dr. Ray has published over 120 articles, chapters, and books in the field of play therapy, specializing in research specifically examining the process and effects of Child Centered Play Therapy.  Dr. Ray is author of A Therapist’s Guide to Development: The Extraordinarily Normal Years, Advanced Play Therapy: Essential Conditions, Knowledge, and Skills for Child Practice, Child Centered Play Therapy Treatment Manual, and co-author of Group Play Therapy and Child Centered Play Therapy Research. 

She is a founding board member and past president of the Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling, as well as current board member of the Association for Play Therapy. She is founding editor of the Journal of Child and Adolescent Counseling, American Counseling Association Fellow, and recipient of the American Counseling Association Don Dinkmeyer Social Interest Award, Association for Humanistic Counseling Educator Award, Association for Play Therapy Outstanding Research Award, Top 25 Women Professors in Texas Award, and many others. 

Schedule:    

Log-on	8:00-8:30
Morning Session Part I	8:30-10:00
Break	10:00-10:15
Morning Session Part II	10:15-12:00
Lunch Break	12:00-12:45
AAPT Business Meeting	12:45-1:00
Afternoon Session Part I	1:00-4:00
Break	2:30-2:45
Afternoon Session Part II	2:45-4:00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing Education Credit:

Due to COVID-19 health concerns, this one-time online event has been approved by APT for (6 hrs) CONTACT CE Hours.  

Six Contact Hours will be awarded for a full day of attendance. Attendees  must successfully complete a post-test and an evaluation. No partial credit will be awarded. 

Counselors:  Alabama Association for Play Therapy (AAPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6211.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are identified.  Alabama Association for Play Therapy is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Marriage and Family Therapists: The Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy (ABEMFT) automatically approves courses that are NBCC approved for CE credit. 

Play Therapists: AAPT is approved by the Association for Play Therapy (APT) to offer continuing education specific to play therapy. APT Approved Provider No. 98-045.   

Social Workers: AAPT is approved by the Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners (ASBSWE) to offer continuing education to social workers. ASBSWE Provider No. 0284. 

Group Discount

A discount of $10.00 per registrant for groups of 3 or more registering together. When registering a group online, please register all group members at one time using the add additional attendee link that appears at the end of the registration. Check or money order only if registering by mail. Credit Cards accepted if registering online. No purchase orders accepted.

Special Needs:

Please contact CE & Registration at ceandregistration@alabamaplaytherapy.org, Registration & CE Coordinator

Cancellations:

Registrants canceling up to 48 hours before a workshop will receive a tuition refund less a $20 administrative fee. All requests must be made in writing or by email. No refunds issued for any reason after January 20, 2021.  In the unlikely event, the workshop cannot be held, registrants will receive complimentary admission to a rescheduled workshop or a full value voucher, good for one year, for a future workshop.

Registration Information:

Early registration is recommended as space is limited to 40 attendees. Spaces are not guaranteed until your registration is processed and the registration fee has been paid. 

	Registration Fee
AAPT/APT Member	$100
Non-Member	$130
Full Time Student	$90